Know your rights after a Long Island DWI

You were visiting Long Island with every intention of having a good time. Part of that good time was enjoying a few drinks with friends. Unfortunately, you got carried away and didn’t have any other way to get home than to drive.

While traveling home, a police officer pulled you over. When asked why, he responded that you had been weaving in the lane, even though you didn’t believe that was the case. Regardless, moments later, you were facing a DWI charge because your Breathalyzer results indicated that you had a blood alcohol content (BAC) over the legal limit.

What kinds of DWI penalties can you face in New York?

A driving while ability impaired (DWAI) charge will be less serious than a DWI charge. Even more serious than that is the aggravated driving charge for having a blood alcohol level of .18% or higher.

The penalties you’ll face many include jail time, heavy fines and the loss of your license. It’s impossible to say exactly what kinds of penalties you’ll face because it will depend in part on your past actions — such as if you have past DWIs or other driving offenses.

After a traffic stop, you may be arrested. If you’re taken to the police station, be certain to ask to call an attorney. Your attorney will talk to you about what happened prior to your arrest and make sure that your rights were not violated. Moving forward, your attorney can prevent you from facing unfair penalties and can work to have the charges reduced or dropped completely.